Eulogy for My Father

This is the euology I gave at my 75-year-old father's funeral. He was a
very special man and I want to share that with the Internet community
that so intrigued him.

Transcript of the Eulogy for Loyd V. Williamson
Given by his daughter, Rana K. Williamson
At Services Held November 19, 1996
First United Methodist Church, Junction, Texas

As you all know, there were certain things Loyd liked -- dogs, and poker
games, football, and airplanes -- and there were certain things he
didnít like -- carrots, political speeches, telephone solicitations
(especially those made by insurance men), and long-winded eulogies. I
wonít do that because for every story that I could tell today about
Loyd, his friends here today could tell fifty more. I am very secure in
the knowledge that Loyd lived every day of his life to the fullest and I
feel that Mother and Delia Ruth are secure in that knowledge as well.
And we are very grateful to you all to be here today with us to honor
his life.

As Brother Sam said, Papa was born in Norfolk County, Virginia, the
son of Ovie Buster and Ruth Owen Buster. One of his earliest memories
was of crossing the Mississippi River on his way back home to Texas
where he lived, except for his time in the Army Air Corps, until his
death this past Saturday.

He graduated from Junction High School in 1938 and he very much enjoyed
his memories of playing football for the Eagles, a game that he
continued to love throughout his life, second only to poker, and most
recently, the lottery.

He enlisted in the Air Force on July 30, 1940 and was given the
opportunity to become an enlisted pilot with the rank of Staff Sergeant
Pilot . His membership in the Army Air Corps Enlisted Pilots Association
gave him great pleasure and just last month in Austin he and his buddies
refought the war at their bi-annual reunion. Youíll be very pleased to
know we won again.

He was a graduate of the class of 42-H from Kelly Field and flew
fifty-one bombing missions in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. He
married Dortha Waddell of Menard the same day he received his wings,
September 6, 1942. He liked to say he got his wings that morning and had
them clipped that afternoon.

For more than 50 years he has owned and operated Busterís Laundry and
Cleaners, first with his parents and then as sole proprietor. He was
very proud of his business and once we were together at a social
gathering in Kerrville and he had been sitting there with that look on
his face you all know so well listening to self-important oil men and
bankers talk about their work. One of them turned to him and said,
Williamson, what are you in? Papa looked at him and said, ďDirty
drawers.

He was a member of this church and of the Masonic Lodge , a three-time
Worthy Patron of the Eastern Star, a former city councilman (the last
time he ran Mother told him it would be the last time unless he wanted a
divorce) and he was a retired volunteer fireman.
He is survived by his wife, Dortha, two daughters, Delia Ruth and
myself, four sisters-in-law , numerous nieces and nephews, and someone
who hasnít been mentioned yet but who meant a great deal to him, his
Yorkshire terrier, Scooter; and by all of you, his friends, and his
neighbors.

He had a real bad habit that all the preachers in this church knew very
well. Toward the end of a Sunday sermon, especially on days when the
Cowboys were playing he used to remove his watch and hold it out and
peer at it and then reach forward and tap on the pew in front of him to
make sure that it was still running. Never let it be said that my father
could not get his point across. Thank you very much.